Those who are naughty are going to get something a lot worse than coal in Michael Dougherty's Krampus, while a Special Ops team engages supernatural forces in Spectral. This pagan demon and ghostly threat will officially see the big screen, as Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures have just announced the release dates for both films.
According to Box Office Mojo, Krampus will come out in theaters on November 25th, 2015, while Spectral will see the silver screen in 3D on August 12th, 2016.
We reported in May that Legendary Pictures has signed Michael Dougherty to co-write and direct Krampus, a Christmas horror comedy co-written by Todd Casey and Zach Shields: “Based on an ancient legend about a pagan demon who punishes the wicked, Krampus is similar in style to Dougherty’s cult hit Trick R’ Treat.”
This is the second Krampus-based Christmas horror movie to begin development as of late, as we reported earlier this year that writer/director Kevin Smith’s Anti-Claus, also a Christmas horror movie revolving around the naughty children-consuming Krampus, was in the works. Horror fans who’ve been waiting for films about the Krampus (one thing you definitely don’t want coming down your chimney on Christmas Eve) are in for two takes on this type of terror, with Krampus looking to be the first one to see light. It's also of note that Legendary is the same company Michael Dougherty is working with to make a sequel to his cult hit, Trick ’r Treat.
Described as a “supernatural Black Hawk Down”, Spectral will be directed by first-timer Nic Mathieu and was originally written by George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau) based on a pitch by Ian Fried, before later receiving the rewrite treatment from John Gatins (Flight, Real Steel). Spectral will follow a top-notch Special Ops crew as they use advanced weaponry to fight supernatural entities that have attacked New York City.
Spectral stars James Badge Dale (World War Z) in a lead role and actors Emily Mortimer (Shutter Island), Max Martini (Pacific Rim), Cory Hardrict (Battle Los Angeles), Clayne Crawford (SundanceTV’s Rectify), and Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek Into Darkness) in supporting roles.
We'll keep Daily Dead readers updated on Krampus and Spectral when more details surface down the line.
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
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